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New Orleans revelers: threat of soggy Fat Tuesday

Published on NewsOK
Modified: February 11, 2013 at 8:48 pm •
Published: February 11, 2013

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Scattered showers didn't deter revelers Monday as thousands flocked to New Orleans' historic French Quarter and surrounding areas along the Mississippi River for festivities leading up to Mardis Gras.

Addison Moran, 7, yells for beads and trinket from the shoulders of her father Paul Moran during the Krewe of Bacchus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Despite the weather, Monday's parades proceeded as planned. Those included the Krewe of Orpheus, led by entertainer Harry Connick Jr., and the Krewe of Proteus, the Carnival season's second-oldest krewe dating to 1882 and named after an early Greek sea god.

Despite rain and cloudy skies, the riverfront throbbed with music as revelers awaited the arrival of the King of Zulu, who toasts the King of Rex. As brass bands played on stages set up along the river, masked and costumed revelers caught beads tossed from French Quarter balconies.

"It's crazy, all these people with no inhibitions," said Robin Danford, of Arlington, Texas, as she walked down Bourbon Street, where many partied and tossed beads and drank.

The National Weather Service has forecast rain for much of Fat Tuesday, when as many as 1 million people traditionally revel in the streets of New Orleans. But so far officials have not canceled any scheduled parades.